Did the HTC Hero fail?

[HeXiiK]

Do you guys think that the HTC Hero failed? I mean I had it for some time and I always found it freezing. I think the processor was to small for what the phone is set up to use. I don't think the HTC Sense is the problem, It's fantastic on the Incredible. What do you guys think?

 

[Slug]

Failed? Hardly... this was the handset that brought Android to the attention of the general public. Without the Hero I doubt there'd be an Incredible, Droid X, Desire HD etc.

As for the CPU, 528MHz was top-end 18mths ago when the Hero hit the market. I've had no issues running Sense ROMs on it, although the performance improved markedly with the first firmware update. It still runs as reliably as it did when new, and performs even better (and more economically) with a 2.2-based ROM.

 

[The_Gnome_]

Failed? Hardly... this was the handset that brought Android to the attention of the general public. Without the Hero I doubt there'd be an Incredible, Droid X, Desire HD etc.

As for the CPU, 528MHz was top-end 18mths ago when the Hero hit the market. I've had no issues running Sense ROMs on it, although the performance improved markedly with the first firmware update. It still runs as reliably as it did when new, and performs even better (and more economically) with a 2.2-based ROM.

I couldn't agree more. I've loved the phone from the day I got it, and with a custom 2.2 ROM on it now, it outperforms all expectations I had for it.

I think this was the device to expand the public's views on Android, at least here in Canada (after the original Magic/Dream on Rogers).

 

[topcorner]

What Slug said.

I still have a Hero and still think it's a great phone. I wouldn't say I've had any significant problems with it. Performs well and the only time when I've noticed a slowdown is when installing an app and trying to do other things at the same time.

 

[HeXiiK]

What Slug said.

I still have a Hero and still think it's a great phone. I wouldn't say I've had any significant problems with it. Performs well and the only time when I've noticed a slowdown is when installing an app and trying to do other things at the same time.

Ok I was unaware that this phone was the first of it's kind so to speak. Now I know that. I guess now..the phone is..compared to other great phones bad. I guess since it did start the Android thing..yes I'll agree that it did not fail. I guess the problem I was having was the multi-tasking problem.

 

[Slug]

Ok I was unaware that this phone was the first of it's kind so to speak.

Well, the G1/Magic was (I think) the first generally-available Android handset in the UK but it wasn't really until the Hero was announced that the OS got any mainstream attention. In that sense it's fair to say that it did "set the ball rolling".

 

[GordonEndersby]

I dont think it failed in any sense of the word.
Its the best phone Ive ever had.
No problems and seems to work fast enough for me.
Ive updated the roms as theyve been available without any problem and have no worries about using it till my contract allows me to upgrade in a few more months.
and Ill upgrade to the latest best android handset available at the time.
Id like at least an oled screen to make it better in daylight.
Android is a very good smartphone OS and does everything I want it to.

Gordon

 

[jev]

the phone is..compared to other great phones bad.

The hero still is a great phone (I'm running Froyo at the moment). Though it can't compete with the new high-speed phones, it still stacks up nicely to the WildFire for example.

 

[daveybaby]

A very large number of people i work with have an HTC Desire. The reason they bought a desire is they saw the Hero i bought 6 months earlier and liked it.

Saw a post on engadget yesterday detailing the android OS usage for a particular twitter app. Froydvillain was in the top 5 i think. There are still a LOT of people out there using their heros.

 

[Peji]

I didn't get the hero by accident. My 2 year cooldown for getting a new phone finally ended I was sick of my N81...although i discovered android phones a bit late, I was planning on getting the Motorla Milestone but because of the size, price, and not having that much difference from the hero, I decided the HTC Hero suited me more. And I just recently discovered custom roms which opens my eyes to newer possibilities. Tbh, I think as long as I get a phone better than my old phone, and I did, it's a success.

 

[xevious]

I'm attracted to new technology, but always hesitate to be an early adopter. There are so many other people so talented at analyzing new tech and figuring out what works, what doesn't, and how to optimize use, that I just wait for them to get a foothold before I step in. Sometimes I'm able to see things differently and contribute additional useful info after the fact.

The right opportunity for me to upgrade came along (I got an OEM refurbished Hero for just $80 with no contract extension and no discounts required--looks like new), and I'm so glad I finally did it. The HTC Hero is a great phone for the price. Certainly the Evo outclasses it, but not by such a huge margin. And I'm glad to see there are a number of Hero diehards that are willing to stick it out longer with the Hero before upgrading.

I'm on s/w version 2.31.651.7 (Android 2.1). I know that Sprint won't officially support the Hero on 2.2, because it considers the phone a sunset product. And the developer community has gotten around that issue with custom ROM's on 2.2. There's such an overwhelming amount of info out there... does a topic exist that highlights the key advantages to various ROM's? I'm figuring I should stick it out with the default ROM for a while before upgrading, to see if I really need to do it.

It seems better battery life is one of the key advantages to going with a custom ROM. Battery usage was rather quick on my first day, but that's because I was playing with it, downloading many apps, and checking out the features. I've since learned about various controls/settings to reduce the load. Today I seem to be doing much better (so far). Lots of stuff is turned off, only enabled when I really want it (like a weather update). I figured it would be an interesting test to go ultra conservative on use to see just how long this phone can go on a single charge. There's also the matter of initial battery use. I'd see this effect on other phones where the battery life per charge would increase a little after having put the new battery through a handful of cycles. I trust this may happen with my Hero as well.

I very much like the HTC Sense interface. Some of the custom ROM's I've seen depicted on the Internet don't look as refined. I take it we won't see the HTC Sense widgets ever upgraded for 2.2?

 

[Slug]

does a topic exist that highlights the key advantages to various ROM's?

As you're using a Sprint Hero, take a look here.

I take it we won't see the HTC Sense widgets ever upgraded for 2.2?

Funny you should say that.... I read earlier today that someone is already testing a port of the Wildfire 2.2 ROM for the GSM Hero.

 

[xevious]

Thanks for the link, Slug. Sorry I posted in the wrong place about this. I'd been aware that there are other versions of the Hero, but didn't keep that fresh in mind.

Good to hear that the GSM version is getting 2.2.

I'm so stoked that I got on board Android with the Hero. Plenty of fun stuff ahead and lots to learn. Thanks again...

 

[Slug]

Sorry I posted in the wrong place about this.

No worries. It's not a hanging offence, and your points were very pertinent whatever the flavour of the Hero.

Good to hear that the GSM version is getting 2.2.

We've had a few options for vanilla-ish 2.2 ROMs for a while. This Wildfire port opens up the opportunity to have SenseUI on top of 2.2 though, which is a whole new ballgame.

 

[Peji]

If a stable 2.2 rom with HTC Sense comes out, I'll get it 3 seconds before it comes out ^^